China pledges stricter supervision over school food safety

“The introduction of the regulation is an inevitable requirement to enhance the nutrition and health standards of school food,” according to a media statement by the Ministry of Education on March 19.

Under the new regulation, school officials from kindergartens to high schools are required to accompany students during school meals.

The plan will guide them to pay more attention to school food safety, as well as spot and address problems in a timely manner, according to the statement.

Schools are also required to release food sources, suppliers and other information.

The regulation also invites parents to eat with students in school to ease their doubts.

Food safety supervision departments are required to strengthen supervision over school food safety by conducting regular inspections on and around campus, as well as guiding schools to implement food safety responsibilities, according to the statement.

The regulation also aims to establish a risk prevention and control system on school food safety, as well as the work requirements for prevention, emergency response and coping with school food safety accidents.